Whether you’re seeking to hire a home or building contractor for routine maintenance, renovations, or to repair damage from a covered claim, entrusting your home or business property to an inexperienced or fraudulent contractor is a property owner’s worst nightmare. In the worst-case scenario, you’ve spent the money, the project is incomplete, AND additional damage is done to your home or business. 

Sometimes an insurance claim can be complicated and cumbersome. There may be elements of the process that are hard to understand. One of those is subrogation, also referred to as “subro.” Unless you’ve had a claim that involved subro, you may not know what it means or what to expect. 

Not all insurance companies are the same. Nor do they all sell insurance the same way. At West Bend, we believe strongly in the independent insurance agency system. Why? Because independent insurance agents represent different insurance carriers. That means they’ll find the coverages and price that best fits each customer’s needs. In other words, they’ll do what’s best for you. To learn more about how independent agents work for you, check out this blog and video.

Everything you read on the internet is true, right? This topic has been forged into the spotlight and it’s become top of mind in recent months. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to be inundated and overwhelmed with the amount of information shared on radio, TV, websites and social media. However, we owe it to ourselves, and others, to slow down, take time to verify information and ensure what we're reading and hearing is factual.

There are approximately 77.8 million dogs as pets in the United States.* That’s an impressive number.  Many of our associates, myself included, have dogs as companion animals. We fully understand the passion people have for their pets as we’ve experienced the same thing on a personal level.  That’s why when the topic of dogs and insurance coverage comes up, it’s not an easy discussion, nor do we take it lightly.

If you’ve ever filed a home insurance claim, you may have wondered what goes on behind the scenes. Insurance companies follow established procedures, and knowing them helps the insured understand the process.

Deciphering loan contracts and insurance policies can be difficult, and figuring out the difference between loan amounts and insured amounts can be complicated. However, understanding the difference is critical in obtaining the right protection. Here's what you need to know.

Your house is not just another asset, so you cannot take any risks regarding homeowners' insurance. There are many things to consider, but the most important is choosing the right method for valuation, which determines what you receive in case of disaster.

Who wouldn’t want to save money on automobile
insurance? Lower rates mean more money to spend on other essentials or luxuries, but switching to an insurance company that offers a lower cost policy may cost you more in the long run. Your new cut-rate policy may not offer the same protection as your previous policy – and it may be up to you to make up the difference if you’re in an accident.

When shopping for insurance, you want to receive the most value for your money. This means you need to hire an agent who has your best interests — not their own bottom line — at heart. The key to finding an agent who'll always do what's most favorable for you is to understand the differences between the two main types — independent and captive agents — and know which type will steer you in the right direction. Here's what you need to know.